Practice putting cup



June 24, 1969 v. F. QTRIMBLE- 3,451,682

PRACTICE PUTTING CUP Filed Oct. 2'), 1967 WVE/VTOI? VEfP/VO/V F TR/MBLEUnited States Patent 3,451,682 PRACTICE PUTTING CUP Vernon F. Trimble,6700 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago, II]. 60631 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No.674,023 Int. Cl. A63b 57/00 US. Cl. 273-176 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A hollow-walled cup member adapted to be placed on its sideon a substantially horizontal surface, to receive a golf ball puttedinto its open end and be thereby forced or tilted into an uprightposition and simultaneously score an arbitrary value for the puttthrough a free-moving playpiece or score ball, within the hollow wall,cooperating in random fall into scoring pockets therein.

The cup comprises a frusto-conical polygon with a plurality of rampedges around its open top and having a double wall defining acircumferential space containing deflectors, a free-moving scoring balland score cups. The cup is further provided with a flat bottom having acircumferential outer flanged edge of lesser effective diameter than thediameter of the open top and so constructed that with the cup restingupon a substantially horizontal surface the center of gravity of the cuppasses through the wall in close proximity to the flanged edge and at apoint removed from the ramp edge at the open end.

Background of the invention It is old to use a cup-shaped member turnedon its side to receive and be up-righted by a putted golf ball for Igolf practice. A number of putting devices of this kind are known andall include trunnions or pivots to hold the cup so that it will properlytilt to an upright position in response to the weight of the ball andcontain the golf ball in its righted position. An ordinary paper cup canbe used to accomplish these same purposes in a limited way; in that casethe inertia of the putting ball turning the cup upright when the ballhits the bottom of the cup.

The prior art devices, although accomplishing their intended purposes,are somewhat complicated, employing in some instances, electromagneticcontacts for scoring and do not provide simple, unitary constructionamenable to easy fabrication and simplicity of use. Also, prior artdevices are not adapted to sequential play in a manner to simulate agame of golf.

The instant invention represents an improvement over the prior artdevices in that it is simply constructed, is readily used and providesalong with the putting practice, a game of chance or means for scoring acomplete game of golf for the practice golfer. The putting cup of thisinvention is a self-contained unit which is readily used and adapted toa number of methods of scoring which serve to generate an interest inthe use of the device. The putting cup of this invention also employsscoring means which relate to certain assigned value positions for theholes into which positions the cup may be oriented prior to putting agolf ball therein.

Summary of the invention The invention concerns a putting practice cupwhich is an integrally balanced unit of frusto-conical polygon designhaving segmented walls and ramp edges adapted to raise the rolling golfball, as by striking thereon, then provide an incline up which it mustroll before striking the inner bottom surface to cause the cup to tiltin an upright position. The golf practice cup of this invention is ofsuch balanced design that no scoring is recorded unless the ball strikesthe individual. segmented ramp edge 3,451,682 Patented June 24, 1969which is on the downward side with sutficient velocity to carry itagainst the inner bottom. The cup does not tilt and no score is made ifthe foregoing events do not take place, or if the ball should strike ata position other than at the bottom segment.

More particularly, the invention concerns a putting cup device of theforegoing balanced design which includes a double polygonal walldefining therebetween a circumferential space extending continuouslyaround the cup and containing a scoring ball therein. Another feature isthe provision of a certain combination of scoring holes and bafllemembers within the aforesaid circumferential space which imparts apurely random path to the scoring ball as the cup is tilted to itsupright position.

In one embodiment of this invention, the putting cup has a wall formedof nine equal segments which may be variously identified by indicia suchas the numerals one to nine on their respective ramps inside the opentop and with par values assigned thereto so that the cup may be placedupon a horizontal surface with the edge on a desired segment or hole incontact with the surface in relationship to receive the putted golfball. More accurate putting is required to operate the device of thisinvention because the segments of the Wall on each side of thehorizontal segment prevent the golf ball from entering the cup.

In another embodiment of the invention, means are provided within atransparent hollow wall to first orient the scoring ball within thatsegment or hole which is on the down side of the cup, before receivingthe golf ball, and to contain the scoring ball within that wall segmentas the golf ball, in passing up the ramp, strikes the bottom of the cupand causes it to tilt, and contain the golf ball while simultaneouslyindicating a score at that hole.

Description of the drawings One embodiment of this invention is shown inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the putting device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1 showingthe device placed on its side on a substantially horizontal surface;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the device in its uprightposition having received a putted golf ball with the scoring indiciashown.

The preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, the device of thisinvention is shown to comprise a cup member 10 having a transversebottom wall 12, preferably formed of solid lightweight material. The oup10 has a plurality of inner wall segments 16 affixed to and extendingfrom the bottom 12 in a flared or diverging relationship to the upperedges 18. At this point the wall segments 16 are aflixed to or haveoutwardly flared peripheral segments 20, terminating in a peripheralknife-like edge 22. Each of the segments 20 is flat, as are the Wallsegments 16 to provide a flat ramp and rolling surface, respectively,for a golf ball 24 (FIGS. 4 and 6), in a manner to be described.

The bottom wall 12 has a flange 26 extending about its periphery andhaving a scalloped edge 28 forming successive radial points 30therearound. The flange 26, in the embodiment shown, is of lesserthickness than the bottom wall 12 and the plurality of junctures formdiverging shoulders 32. The cup member 10 is shown as a nine-sidedpolygonal shape for purposes of illustration. A series of transparent ortranslucent plastic outer Wall segments or panels 34 are afllxed attheir bottom edges 36 edges 42 of the inner wall segments 16 are joinedto the bottom member 12 inside the shoulder 32.

This double-walled construction, defining the space 40, has a bottomwall 44 formed by the bottom member 12 and a top wall or ceiling 46 isprovided to completely enclose the space 40 and contain the scoring ball5. The space 40 is substantially uniform in radial dimension throughoutits height between the ceiling 46 and the bottom 44 and is of asufficient radial depth to allow free movement of the scoring ball 50therein. The top wall 46 is trough-shaped comprising two sections 52 and54 which are fiat and join each other at the trough bottom 56 in aV-shaped configuration which is substantially midway between theradially disposed junctures 58 of the inner wall segments 16 and thejunctures 60 of the outer wall segments 34. A space 62 can be leftbetween the ramp segments 20 and the outer ends of the wall sections 34to act as a cushion for the golf ball 24.

A series of radial, elongated baffle walls 64 are afiixed in asubstantially vertical position within the space 40 at the inner andouter surfaces of each of the radially aligned junctures 38 and 58 ofthe wall segments. The bafiles 64 are spaced as at 66, the top, and 68,the bottom, to provide circumferential communicating paths around thespace 40. Central of each Wall section and extending Any desired indiciaand scoring pocket arrangement can be used and applied to the puttingcup of this invention. Thus, the numerals 1-9, as illustrated at 74, canbe painted or affiXed to the ramp segments 20 around the periphery, toassimilate the numbered holes of a 9 hole golf course. Likewise, thebaffie member 70 can have one or more pockets 76 in the top side, ofsufiicient size to retain the score ball 50 therein, when the cup is inan upright position. An indicia 2 can be applied to the baffle or theouter wall 34 in adjacency therewith as shown. The base 44 is shown tohave a pair of pockets 78 and 80 with the former having the indicia 3thereon and the latter the indicia 4 thereon. Also an indicia 82 can beplaced in the proximity of each of the indicia 74, to show the parstrokes for that hole.

The putting game device with the aforedescribed indicia may be used inthe following manner. The device is placed on the floor 84 and tilted onits side with the segment bearing the indicia 1 against the horizontalsurface as shown in FIG. 4. In this position the score ball 50automatically falls against the inner surface of the outer wall Segment34 which defines the outer periphery of this segment. The bottom of thedevice rests on the floor 84 with the points 30 of the flange 26 servingto raise the wall 34 at an elevation at the base end above thetransverse generally concave walls 52 and 54. The ball 50 rolls to theouter end of the space 40 and is centered therein at the apex or V '56of the concavity.

A golf ball 24 is putted into the cup 10 with sufficient velocity topass up the ramp 20 and over the inner wall segment 16 against thebottom 12. This causes the cup to upright itself and trap the balltherein. At the same time the score ball 50 is released to fall atrandom upon the baffle 70 where it may remain in the pocket 76, orbounce off of this pocket and fall into one or the other of the pockets78 or 80. If the ball 50 rests in the pocket 76 a score of 2 isregistered for a 4 par hole and the player gets an eagle or 2 under par.If the ball falls into the pocket 78 a score of 3 is registered and theplayer gets one under par for a birdie. With the score ball 50 in thepocket 80, the player registers a par for the first hole. The positionof the ball 50 in the various pockets can be readily seen by thetransparency of the wall 34.

This procedure is repeated for each of the nine holes around the ramp20. Any number of players can participate.

The center of gravity of the cup 10 falls close to, but inside theflange 26. Thus a golf ball 24, at the time it strikes the bottom wall12, bears downward against the inner wall segment 16 on a side away fromthe base 12, and, opposite its direction of travel, so that momentarilythe center of gravity of the combined cup and ball is shifted away fromthe base. This stabilizes the cup against tipping under those conditionswhere the golf ball just reaches the bottom wall 12. The ball 50 musttherefore have sutficient' forward velocity to not only strike thebottom wall 12, but must do so with sufficient inertia to pivot the cupon the points 30 and raise both itself and the cup 10 to a point wherethe center of gravity is outside the fiange 26. This action will causethe cup 10 to right itself into the position shown in FIG. 6 andregister a score. If the ball does not strike the bottom wall 12 withsufficient force it rolls back out of the cup and no score isregistered.

The ramp 20 may have widths along the knife edge 22 which are about thediameter of a golf ball so that the total effective width of the openingbetween the adjacent ramps through which the ball may pass is about thesame size as the cup in a green, i.e., 4% inches.

The device of this invention may be constructed of any desired materialsand is preferably constructed of lightweight materials such as thinplastic sheet. Any of a large number of transparent plastics can be usedto form the windows or transparent walls 34.

The internal surfaces of the space 40 are smooth and formed free ofimperfections, so that the score piece 50 which is preferably sphericaland in the form of a steel, glass, plastic or rubber ball, does notcatch or lodge anywhere therein except in the pockets, 76, 78 and andrests only momentarily in the apex of the concavity 56. By making theseparts of plastic the score piece 50, if made of steel, is given abouncing action which extends the random nature of its travel to andfrom the various pockets and bafiies. By these means the path of travelof the play piece is truly random and never an established path or onewhich occurs more often than others.

The device may be any polyhedron configuration and may have any desirednumber of sides, e.g., three or more. Preferably, the device is formedwith all sides or segments of equal width and equal depth so that a truecup-shape is obtained. For purposes of a golf game the device is formedin a nonagon (nine-sided) figures or may be an eighteen-sided figure.The side bafiies 64 can extend the entire depth of the space 40,omitting the apertures 66 and 68, and each said enclosed section of thewall can have an individual play piece, if desired. The inner walls 16and the ramps 20 can be limited to areas adjacent the pockets 76,78 and80 so that the play piece is only visible when positioned within apocket. The scoring segments of the wall may be individual,interconnected or otherwise spaced around the wall of the cup. More thanone score piece 50 can be used and different values or color codesassigned to each.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is: 4

1. A putting game device comprising a) a cup-shaped member having a flatbottom including a peripheral edge and a circumferential upwardlydiverging side wall defining an open top edge,

(b) a portion of said wall comprising a substantially flat wall section,and

(c) said side wall being joined to said bottom radially inward of saidperipheral edge so that a peripheral flange extends radially outwardfrom said bottom,

((1) so that said member may be placed on its side with said top edgeand said flange resting on a substantially horizontal surface and saidWall section inclined downwardly toward said open top edge and be tippedto an upright position by entry of a putted golf ball.

2. A putting game device according to claim 1 wherein the said wallsection has opposed spaced inner and outer wall segments, the outer oneof which has a transparent area, a free-moving score piece is disposedin the space between the wall segments, and an upwardly opening pocketis provided within the said space into which said score piece can lodgeat random upon upright positioning of the device, said score piece beingpositioned gravitationally adjacent said top edge when the device isresting on its side and falling at random therefrom upon its beingturned upright.

3. A putting game device in accordance with claim 2 in which (a) saidcup-shaped member includes a plurality of fiat wall sections similar tosaid first mentioned section in polyhedral configuration,

(b) the spaces between said wall sections are in communication with eachother, and

(c) and at least one score piece receiving pocket is provided within thespace of each wall section.

4. A putting game device in accordance with claim 2 in which (a)saidspace between said wall segments has a bottom wall and a top wall, saidtop wall being upwardly concave between the limits of said segmentwhereby said score piece is oriented within said concavity in theinclined position of said device.

5. A putting game device in accordance with claim 4 in which (a) saidbottom wall of said space includes at least one upwardly opening scorepiece receiving pocket.

6. A putting device in accordance with claim 4 in which (a) saidtransparent area extends between said bottom and top walls.

7. A putting game device in accordance with claim 3 in which (a) thespaces between said wall sections have bottom and top walls,

(b) and the lateral ends of the bottom wall of each section being raisedsufficiently to prevent said ball from rolling out of said section upontipping said device into an upright position.

8. A putting device in accordance with claim 7 includ- (a) scoringindicia on said pockets and (b) numerical indicia on the inner sides ofsaid wall sections.

9. A putting game device in accordance with claim 1 in which (a) saidcup member side wall comprises nine fiat wall sections, and

(b) the top edge of the cup member has a nonagon configuration.

10. A putting device in accordance with claim 3 in which theconfiguration of said flange conforms with the polyhedral configurationof said cup-shaped member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,935 11/1928 Paterson.3,074,722 1/1963 Davenport.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Prillltu'y lilramilmr.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

